I should have written this review sooner, but somehow writing a review for a book you really liked is always a hard task, so you keep putting it off. I should have written this review sooner, but somehow writing a review for a book you really liked is always a hard task, so you keep putting it off. Can't help feeling you won't make it justice. So anyway, this book is just great. Nothing literary, written in a down to earth tone and speaking of simple folks (well.. mostly simple folks, if you could call them that.. considering.. you'll see, it IS about the future, after all). Anyway, it might be written without too many intricacies, but it surely deals with some real tough questions, some you keep wondering about weeks after finishing it, only finding that even though you DO have an open mind, you just don't have a clue about what is right and what you would pick. Anyway, this is a story that involves time travel, but it's not really about time travel. It's more about human nature and what it can become. The author looks deep both into the future and into the heart of man, of where it would go if you give it enough freedom. The author has built a wonderful world, one that really captivated me. And the future society is surely very interesting, not of a type I have encountered so far in books or movies. You just end up loving the characters (especially Pax, man, I loved that guy.. or not guy, well, anyway - you need to read it to get it). You get attached to the main character as well, even though he makes the wrong choices sometimes, obviously. The book does have a really fulfilling feeling when you finish it though. I don't know, it just feels right. And then you choose some fluff for your next book, because you don't want to ruin the aftertaste. Maybe I am simple for liking non-literary books too, but some just feel really right. This one felt like home to me. Recommended to all fantasy, utopia-dystopia lovers, time travel fans and whatnot. This won't involve any sci-fi, but it doesn't really need it in my opinion. And anyone who loves a good story with enough thrill will love it. I feel that it's a shame I only read it now, I would have voted for this one in the GR awards....more
I won this book through a goodreads give-away, and I have to say - the author's the nicest one I've seen so far - personally signed and even a hand-wrI won this book through a goodreads give-away, and I have to say - the author's the nicest one I've seen so far - personally signed and even a hand-written note to go with it :) awesome.
Too bad that the book turned out to be not the typical book I read (otherwise I might have given 4 stars). This is a pretty light and funny read, however it gets deep and touching at the end. The first part of the book I was bored through, but in the second things got more serious and I did enjoy it. I think I was reading the first part in the wrong frame of mind - you need to read this book as a form of relaxation after a tough day at work, for example. It's really enjoyable that way. And the ending was really good, the epilogue's also hilarious. For a light read, perhaps a vacation read - I would definitely recommend it. Just don't pick it up if you are into more serious reading or not in a light mood....more
The book wasn't bad. It's just not a book for me. I got it on firstreads, so I'm supposed to give a review, but nothing comes to mind. I bet it would The book wasn't bad. It's just not a book for me. I got it on firstreads, so I'm supposed to give a review, but nothing comes to mind. I bet it would be fun to read if you're a younger boy, I guess. Certainly a lot of action. My copy was printed just perfect. The cover's so nice to the touch, and the pages of such great quality, softly cream yellow. A true delight for someone like me who loves stationery and nicely printed things....more
So I've decided to finally write the review for this book. It took me a while to get to it, but it's just cause I wanted to do it justice. And not jusSo I've decided to finally write the review for this book. It took me a while to get to it, but it's just cause I wanted to do it justice. And not just cause of that.. I'd prefer not to write a review at all, because this is one of those books that become a personal part of you, and you don't really want to share it.
This book has been lying on my bedside table for many months - many months too long, to be honest. But it's just that the cover is so misleading.. I didn't know what was inside. A good lesson - don't judge a book by it's cover, really - don't. Having started, I instantly realized that I'm going to love it all the way, and I was already sorry to think that even though it's a thick book, it will eventually end. Perhaps it's a feminine story. Perhaps it's sentimental. And you do know how I hate all those romance stories and always try to avoid them. But this.. No. This is just warm, cozy, and perhaps just connected with my own life and feelings just enough so I wouldn't be able to put it down. Many times I caught myself thinking, hey, the main character feels exactly what I have felt! And I used to always wonder, is this just something that I sometimes think and feel..? Having read that, I know that maybe it's not me. Maybe it's just women :) not all, but at least some - if there is a person out there who wrote this and thought about this.
Anyhow, don't be mislead by the cover and the name. The story is a really warm and honest story about a really shy woman who decides to help someone who is actually very strong, but does need help - even if it's the help of a person who seems helpless herself. It's a story about believing yourself, believing others as well. And mostly.. It's a story with a good ending. Sometimes you just need a story which ends well.. Like they say - if it didn't end well - it's not the ending yet.
The cases you should read this in: - when you need to get back your trust in life and people - when you need something to warm you up - when you need to be involved in what you're reading
Because I'm telling you, I picked this up when I was having the worst non-reading period in the last two years.. I used to read this on my bus trips. And I swear, there were at least 3 times when I nearly cried at the bus, at least one time when I barely remembered to get out at the right stop, and many, many times when I was annoyed that my stop is already there and now I'll have to wait several hours more to see what happens next.
The part that I loved the best was probably the fact that the characters were really fleshed out. Somehow they were.. just alive. Maybe I just really connected with them. And the style. The writing style was very honest, very natural. No funny business. And then, then there's also "Z. Devel"... I gotta say, that's.. That's a corny joke! BUT IT'S SO FUNNY!!! xDDD haha. Yeah. So basically, I loved almost everything about this book. So much that I personally thanked the writer for writing it. Read it. At least the females of the species - read it :) (yes, yes, that's a paraphrased quote from the book as well - I just noticed xD)
EDIT: I wonder if I mentioned anywhere that I received this as a Firstreads giveaway. In case I haven't, I'm mentioning it now :)...more
Casting off was one of the warmest books I read during these holidays. In a way, it felt like a really nice Christmas present too - it was just what ICasting off was one of the warmest books I read during these holidays. In a way, it felt like a really nice Christmas present too - it was just what I needed. I liked just about everything about it - except maybe for the dialogues, as they can be a little stiff and artificial - but I've noticed that this is a very common thing in American books, so perhaps it's understandable. Other than that, the book offered a safe-feeling atmosphere which I happened to be needing at the time I received it. I really liked the theme of letting go - because, incidentally, I was facing similar thoughts at the time. There were at least two instances when certain passages in the book seemed to refer to my situation and suggested commentary, which in turn made me think about certain things more deeply, of course. Another thing I really liked about the book is how knitting patterns were used in the beginning of every chapter. Although - I have to say - it is regrettable that they're only explained and not drawn or photographed. I caught myself googling the patterns numerous times, trying to imagine them better!
Now for the actual tale.. The book is layered very nicely - parts of the story happen in the current time, parts of it intertwine with memories of the past. You don't really find out what happened in the main character's past almost till the very end - although you do have your suspicions. Both the stories of the main character Rebecca and and the old man Sean are touching, yet sad. Although Rebecca has no way of facing her actual past, Sean's history is used in the book to act as the 'other side' of what happened - through the similarities of their lives - similar disaster, yet different side of the experience. Both these stories are nicely tied together by the innocent affection and understanding of a small child (Rebecca's daughter) - the unconditional understanding that most adults will have lost the capacity to give because of preconceptions and past experiences.
Generally, if you're looking for hope, warmth and reassurance - this book is the book for you. It's the kind of book you'll want to read curled up on the sofa by an (imaginary, perhaps) fireplace with some hot cocoa in your mug.. trying to delay the ending as long as you can.
EDIT: I wonder if I mentioned anywhere that I received this as a Firstreads giveaway. In case I haven't, I'm mentioning it now :)...more
Evelina | AvalinahsBooks
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